Prayagraj: With schools reopening on Wednesday, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) launched a weeklong drive to ensure that students are not transported in unfit vehicles. The campaign, which will continue till July 7, aims to help schools bring their vehicles in compliance with safety and legal requirements before stricter enforcement begins next week.Transport department records show that 272 school buses in Prayagraj either have expired fitness certificates or have failed fitness tests. Several of these vehicles are also operating with expired permits. In view of the large number of violations, Regional Transport Officer (Administration) Himesh Tiwari and RTO (Enforcement) SP Singh reviewed preparations for the drive and directed enforcement teams to coordinate with school managements during the initial phase.Officials have been asked to visit schools between July 1 and 7 and advise managements to renew fitness certificates, permits and other mandatory documents. Schools have also been directed to ensure that only vehicles meeting prescribed safety standards are deployed for transporting students.The transport department said the ongoing phase is intended to give schools an opportunity to rectify shortcomings. However, from July 8, enforcement teams will begin intensive inspections across the district, and any school bus found operating without valid fitness certificates or permits will be seized.On the first day of the campaign, officials inspected 23 school vehicles. Two buses were found operating despite having failed fitness tests and expired permits and were seized on the spot.The inspection also revealed that seven school buses were carrying students beyond their approved seating capacity. Challans were issued to all seven vehicles, and drivers and operators were warned that repeat violations would invite stricter action, including seizure of the buses.
